The Skiers' Guide to Aspen Snowmass

Aspen Snowmass sits in the heart of Colorado's Rocky Mountains, offering something truly exceptional: four distinct mountains on one lift ticket. With an overall rating of 4.62/5 from our community, this resort delivers a comprehensive skiing experience that ranks among America's finest.

The resort spans from 2,470m to 3,813m above sea level, providing reliable snow conditions throughout the season. What makes Aspen Snowmass unique is its quartet of mountains - Aspen (Ajax), Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass - each with its own character and terrain variety. Our Snomad users rate it particularly highly for experts (4.81/5) and snowboarders (4.79/5).

The area boasts 366 runs served by 29 lifts including 3 gondolas and 26 chairlifts. While undeniably expensive, the quality of experience justifies the cost for most visitors. As Christian, an expert skier from the UK notes, "Four mountains to choose from means endless terrain and options for every level of skier and rider."

Each of the four mountains has its distinct personality, catering to different skill levels. The area earns exceptional marks for groomed runs (4.70/5) and powder zones (4.55/5).

Aspen Mountain (Ajax) is known for challenging terrain with no beginner runs. "Aspen has more steep terrain and LOTS of bowls," says Sarah, an intermediate snowboarder. The newly added Heros terrain provides direct access to double black diamonds with minimal lift time.

Aspen Highlands attracts advanced skiers with its legendary Highlands Bowl - a hike-in area at nearly 13,000ft that delivers spectacular powder skiing. "The Highlands Bowl is a must for advanced riders," advises Colin, an advanced skier.

Buttermilk is perfect for beginners and park riders, hosting the X Games with world-class terrain parks. "Buttermilk houses the terrain parks where the X Games are held," explains Evan, an expert skier.

Snowmass offers the most diverse terrain of the four and is especially suitable for families. Wesley, an expert skier, praises: "Snowmass has the best terrain in Colorado with something for everyone, including experts. The resort is well laid out, and you can easily avoid crowds by sticking to more advanced terrain."

The area receives high ratings for both tree runs (4.51/5) and off-piste skiing (4.39/5), with many users mentioning excellent gladed areas and backcountry options.

With an eating out rating of 4.27/5, Aspen Snowmass offers exceptional mountain dining. The resorts feature several notable on-mountain restaurants, each with unique character.

"Sams at Snowmass, Bonnies and the Beach at Aspen and The Cliffhouse at Buttermilk all have their value to different types of guests," explains Ailin, an expert skier. Lauren, an intermediate skier, enthusiastically recommends: "100% recommend a meal at Sams, best food we've ever had on a mountain."

Cloud Nine at Highlands is particularly famous for its lively atmosphere. Thomas, an expert skier, notes it's "where you're likely to get more wet from champagne than anywhere else in the world. As the number one seller of Veuve in the world. And it's only open for 3 months out of the year."

While mountain dining can be expensive, the quality tends to justify the cost. Wesley, an expert skier, explains: "The prices are expensive, but similar to other resorts. The difference is quality. If I'm paying $30 for lunch it's nice to have high quality gourmet food and not frozen chicken tenders."

In Aspen town, the dining scene is world-class with numerous restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. Matthew, an expert skier, recommends "il poggio being the best Italian restaurant I've been to, although very difficult to get a reservation last minute."

Aspen Snowmass earns a stellar après-ski rating of 4.57/5, with a scene that rivals the best in North America. The après options vary across the four mountains, each offering something distinctive.

Highlands Ale House at the base of Aspen Highlands is popular with locals. "The Highlands Ale House at the base is good fun with drinks and food," according to Jane, an advanced skier. The Highlands closing party is legendary, with Thomas describing it as "undoubtedly one of the biggest après parties in the world."

At Buttermilk, Home Team BBQ provides a more relaxed, family-friendly après option. Alex, an expert skier, describes the overall après scene: "The atmosphere is electric, with a full DJ pumping out energetic tunes, creating the perfect ambiance for unwinding and celebrating a day of skiing."

Aspen town itself offers the most sophisticated nightlife, with numerous bars and clubs staying open until the early hours. "Karaoke at Silver City on a Monday night being a highlight although very busy," suggests Matthew, an expert skier.

One Snomad community member liked that there's "free transportation between all four mountains" making it easy to experience different après venues throughout your stay. However, Jane, an advanced skier, warns that it "can get to be a bit much with the Chanel clad influencer crowd" at some locations.

Aspen Snowmass scores exceptionally well for family friendliness (4.54/5), with thoughtfully designed areas across its four mountains.

Of the four mountains, Snowmass and Buttermilk are particularly well-suited for families. "Buttermilk is the perfect mountain to progress your skills on for beginners," says Michael, an expert skier and former instructor. "Snowmass has a wide range of slopes for all levels from greens for beginners to double blacks for your expert level skiers."

The Meadows area at Snowmass offers gentle green runs along with additional family attractions. Thomas, an expert skier, notes it "has very mellow greens, as well as a tubing hill area and an Alpine Roller coaster."

The ski school receives excellent reviews (4.65/5) from our community. "The ski school is the envy of every mountain in North America," states Michael. "From top to bottom, the entire school is filled with the best of the best. Globally recognized trainers lead the program, and many instructors have been teaching here for generations."

Evan highlights that "Buttermilk houses the terrain parks where the X Games are held, and Snowmass offers the widest variety of terrain and has a more family-friendly feel," making it ideal for families with varied abilities.

Aspen Snowmass provides excellent accommodation options (4.42/5), though they come with a premium price tag reflective of the resort's luxury positioning.

Lodging is available across the four mountain areas, with Snowmass Village offering perhaps the most family-friendly options. Aspen town provides the most upscale accommodation with direct access to Ajax Mountain. As Michael, a local expert skier explains: "If you're trying to be budget conscious, you can stay in nearby towns in the Valley, such as Basalt, Carbondale or Glenwood, but they are definitely a solid drive from the mountains (25, 40, and 55 mins respectively)."

The majority of users think accommodation in Aspen is expensive but worth it for the experience. Malia, an advanced skier, notes: "The bus system can be a bit complex at first but after is pretty easy to navigate," making it convenient to access all four mountains regardless of where you stay.

For those on a budget, Chase, an expert skier, suggests: "Split an Airbnb with 10 or so of your buds and you'll have the time of your life." This can make an otherwise prohibitively expensive destination more accessible.

Aspen Skiing Company has positioned itself as an industry leader in environmental initiatives. The resort operates on 100% renewable electricity and has invested significantly in solar arrays and a methane-capture project that generates clean energy.

Their Protect Our Winters advocacy work demonstrates a commitment beyond operational improvements to broader climate policy change. The resort has also implemented extensive waste reduction programs and energy-efficient snowmaking systems.

The free RFTA bus system connecting all four mountains and nearby towns significantly reduces transport emissions. Additionally, Aspen Snowmass has earned numerous sustainability certifications and continues to set ambitious targets for carbon reduction across their operations.